Just started a new job working 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off. This is my first time working for 3 weeks straight. I live around 2 hours from the job while my co workers could be anywhere in the US so most of them fly in. About a week and a half a guy I never met comes joins the crew. He was a chain smoker. At the end of the 3 weeks I was asked i could drop him off at the airport because he knew i drove to the location. I told him no I couldn’t and walked to my car and left. The reasons why I didn’t want to was because he smelted like cigarettes and cigars and I didn’t want my car to smell
Like that and also I don’t want to be known as the guy who takes people to the airport before I leave. Now I heard that people know i didn’t drop him off and he doesn’t like me. I feel that I had the right to refuse to drop him off but AITA?
Edit: thanks to everyone who commented. I feel much better with my decision to set the boundary and not let it turn into a nightmare like It has done for others. Once you do something nice it’s just expected next time around.
NTA if it’s a real company they can pay for an Uber
Can’t smoke in an Uber, I am guessing that’s why he wanted the lift.
Idk what would make him think it would be acceptable to smoke in a random coworker’s car either. TF.
Some People who smoke like that don’t typically even think about it. They just do it.
I once had a client tell me that she believes that smoking is the most entitled vice in existence, and that has lived rent free in my head ever since, because I absolutely agree with her. It turns out thay she’s entitled herself in a different way, but I digress.
I tend to agree with her. It’s so incredibly selfish because you can’t contain the smoke and instead inflict it on others without their consent. I don’t understand how we’ve come so far in understanding consent in other situations, but not related to smoking/vaping…
NTA. boundaries are boundaries, and it’s reasonable for you to not want someone you hardly know in your car with you, especially when you live so far away. it’s weird your coworkers are spreading rumors about you when this could’ve been a legitimate safety concern.
NTA. It’s not part of your job and you barely know him, why should he be your responsibility?
NTA why can’t the company comp a ride or driving/parking expenses?
NTA. The smoke is reason enough although even without that I still would have still refused since he was a stranger.
NTA.
I am a lifelong non-smoker. I loathe the smell of anything smoking related.
Many smokers don’t realize how much the smell clings to their clothes and their hair and their skin, even more so if they’re heavy smokers. You can tell who the heavy smokers are even if they’re not actually smoking at the time. The smell is disgusting.
If you reek of smoke, you’re not getting in my car, period.
“Sorry, I’m not able to do that” or “Unfortunately that doesn’t work for me” are the only responses I would feel the need to give. If he won’t stop asking, and insists on a reason – well, OK, pal, you asked for it. I’d tell him the truth.
*Now I heard that people know i didn’t drop him off and he doesn’t like me.*
Well, of course he doesn’t like you. You refused him a favor. The question is, can you live with him not liking you?
I could.
I don’t need my coworkers to be my best friends, or even to like me. As long as we are civil to each other and can work amicably together, that’s all I require.
NTA
That smoke smell seriously makes me sick to my stomach. Also, it’s ridiculous to ask a perfect stranger to drive you anywhere, coworker or not.
Was your drive to the airport the 2 hours? Cus hell no. Not that it changes my vote either way but I’m curious to what level the audacity rose?
NTA
The smoking issue aside, it’s very good to set that boundary early.
For FIFO positions, the company should be organising transport to/from the airport for those staff. That is absolutely not your job, and if he’s missing that transport for some reason that’s his problem to deal with, not yours
NTA. Smokers stink and their stink infects cars, furniture, whatever.